Etymologically
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fungor

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfʊŋ.ɡɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfuŋ.ɡor][1]

Forms

fungor (present infinitive fungī, perfect active fūnctus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fung-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰu-n-g- (“to be of use, be used”), a nasal present of Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy, be of use”).[2][1] Cognate with Sanskrit भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte, “enjoys”) and Old Irish bongaid (“breaks, harvests”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to perform or discharge a duty or office, early with the accusative and later with the ablative, as Cicero's discharging the functions of the body.[3][5] It was to go through or experience, suffer or enjoy, as Horace's man worn out by toils.[3] It was also to function or serve, and to act as something.[3] Its compound dēfungor meant to be finished, and in the perfect to die.[2]

Its noun fūnctiō gave English function, and Medieval Latin fungibilis gave the legal word fungible.[6] It survives as Italian fungere.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it with the ablative.[5][4]
  • 1530s – English function is recorded.[6]
  • 1818 – English fungible is recorded in law.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To perform, discharge, execute (a duty or office).[3][7]
  2. To go through, experience, suffer; to enjoy.[3]
  3. To function, act, serve; to act as.[3]
  • dēfungor
  • English function
  • English fungible

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press